Team GB’s Zoe Atkin delivered a thrilling performance in Livigno on February 22, 2026, clinching a bronze medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old, already the reigning world and X Games champion, capped off what is now officially Team GB’s most successful Winter Olympics—three golds, one silver, and one bronze, matching their previous record medal hauls but with a new high-water mark for golds.
Atkin’s journey to the podium was anything but straightforward. The final, originally scheduled for the evening of February 21, was dramatically postponed due to a relentless blizzard that blanketed the Livigno Snow Park. Officials from the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) made the call at 4:20 p.m. UK time, citing persistent heavy snow and unsafe conditions. "Unfortunately, due to persistent heavy snow and the inability to prepare the pipe in a safe and fair condition, the jury has made the decision to postpone the women's halfpipe finals to Sunday," the FIS announced. The delay pushed the event to the final day of the Games, adding a layer of suspense as athletes and fans alike wondered if the weather would allow the competition to proceed or if medals would be awarded based on qualification scores.
Had the event not gone ahead, Atkin, who had qualified first with 91.50 points out of 21 competitors, would have been in line for a historic gold by default. But as the weather cleared on Sunday morning—cold, crisp, and under perfect blue skies—the stage was set for a true Olympic showdown. The final saw 11 athletes competing, after Canada’s Cassie Sharpe, who had qualified third, suffered a serious crash and withdrew with a concussion. Sharpe, already a two-time Olympic medallist in the halfpipe, was taken to hospital but her absence did not dampen the intensity of the competition.
The field was stacked with talent, including China’s Eileen Gu, the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history and defending champion from Beijing 2022, and Li Fanghui, who had shared the overall World Cup crystal globe with Atkin the previous season. Both Gu and Atkin, interestingly, are students at Stanford University, adding a unique academic rivalry to their athletic one. Atkin, whose father is British and mother Malaysian, was born in Massachusetts and has represented Great Britain throughout her career, inspired by her older sister Izzy’s bronze in slopestyle at Pyeongchang 2018.
The tension was palpable as the athletes dropped into the halfpipe, the fresh snow making each run a high-wire act. Atkin, who had looked relaxed at the top chatting with her coach and selecting her run’s music, launched into her first run with amplitude that left the crowd in awe—soaring 4.5 meters high, nearly two meters above most rivals. Her clean execution and the height of her tricks earned her a score of 90.50, immediately putting her into the lead.
But the competition was fierce. Li Fanghui showcased her own technical prowess, posting an 81.25 on her first run and later a 93.00, while Gu, after a shaky start with a score of 30.00, delivered a near-flawless second run to take the lead with 94.00 and then topped it with a 94.75 on her third and final attempt. Atkin’s second run was dramatic—she soared to a staggering 5.5 meters but crashed midway, drawing gasps from the crowd and praise from commentator James ‘Woodsy’ Woods, who called her effort “outrageous” and “ridiculous.”
Unfazed, Atkin regrouped for her third and final run. Knowing a medal was within reach, she pushed the boundaries yet again, throwing in a huge switch 900 for her last trick. Her 92.50-point run was a personal best for the day but just half a point shy of silver, cementing her place on the podium behind Gu and Li. The tears flowed as Atkin celebrated with her fellow medallists, her family—including her role-model sister Izzy—cheering from the stands.
Reflecting on her achievement, Atkin said, "I can't even begin to describe the rollercoaster of emotions it is here at the Olympics. I was so stressed out today and so nervous. So I kind of played a little bit safer on my first run just to put one down. And then I set it up on that third run there, so I'm just super stoked." She added, "I wanted to one up her so bad! But no, watching her in 2018 has always been such a big moment of inspiration for me. And she's always been my biggest role model. It was so full circle to have her watching me here and supporting me, when I was watching her in Pyeongchang when she got her medal. It's really special, and to share that with her means so much."
The bronze medal not only matches Izzy Atkin’s achievement from eight years ago but also puts the Atkin sisters in British sporting history as the nation’s most successful Olympic skiers. Team GB’s overall tally of five medals at these Games equals their previous best from Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, but with the significant distinction of three golds this time around—a testament to the country’s growing prowess in winter sports.
This final was more than just a contest of tricks and amplitude—it was a showcase of resilience and adaptability. The event’s postponement, the ever-present threat of cancellation, and the pressure of Olympic history bearing down on the athletes all combined to create a memorable spectacle. Eileen Gu, for her part, ran to embrace her compatriot Li after securing gold and silver for China, then collapsed to the snow in disbelief and joy, defending her title in her favorite event. Gu’s Instagram post summed up the emotional rollercoaster: "Halfpipe finals postponed to tomorrow morning due to weather :'( ."
For Atkin, the bronze is a crowning achievement in a season that saw her win the world championship in Switzerland last March and solidify her reputation as one of the sport’s elite. Her academic pursuits at Stanford—where she studies symbolic systems—make her one of the most remarkable all-rounders in Team GB’s 55-strong squad.
As the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics draw to a close, Atkin’s bronze in the halfpipe marks not just a personal triumph but a symbolic passing of the torch between sisters and an emphatic statement about Britain’s place in the world of snow sports. With the sun shining on Livigno and the halfpipe finally tamed, Team GB’s athletes and fans have every reason to celebrate a Games for the ages.